Posts Tagged ‘Detroit Red Wings’

Happy New Year, folks! The year 2016 ended with the Columbus Blue Jackets notching their 15th straight win, Team USA shaking off the New Year’s Eve monkey versus Canada in Under-20 World Junior action, and we now have two straight days of outdoor Classics! How do ya like that?

Anthony Mantha, RW, Detroit Red Wings (ESPN: 15.9 per cent; CBS: 40 per cent): Mantha, one of Detroit’s bright young stars, entered Sunday’s Centennial Classic clash with Toronto on a five-game point streak with three goals and six points in that span (he potted another huge goal in the New Year’s Day tilt; see video below). He has seven goals, 13 points, a plus-9 rating, 12 penalty minutes and 50 shots on goal in 21 games this season, making him a serious candidate for protection in dynasty formats. Keep your eyes on this one.

Carl Hagelin, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins (ESPN: 24.1 per cent; CBS: 37 per cent): Hagelin isn’t a real prolific scorer. However, he serves his role as a secondary scorer quite well for the Pens. Hagelin had two goals, five points, a plus-3 rating, a game-winning goal and six shots on goal in three games last week.

Andrew Ladd, LW, New York Islanders (ESPN: 30.7 per cent; CBS: 40 per cent): Ladd has yet to prove just why he was signed for so large of a sum in the offseason, but he did have a pretty decent week. The former Winnipeg captain had three goals, four points, a plus-1 rating, a power play point and five shots on goal in three games for the Isles. Be careful, however, as he has just 12 points and a minus-9 rating this season.

Dmitry Orlov, D, Washington Capitals (ESPN: 16.3 per cent; CBS: 42 per cent): Orlov has just one goal this season, but seems to be finding himself on the score sheet quite regularly these days thanks to his playmaking ability from the blue line. In three games last week, he had two assists, a plus-2 rating, nine shots on goal and two defensive points, depending on your league’s format.

James Reimer, G, Florida Panthers (ESPN: 3.5 per cent; CBS: 19 per cent): Reimer has had better campaigns, but he’s coming off a solid week. The former Toronto goalkeeper had a win, a 1.99 goals against average and a .948 save percentage in two appearances last week.

Rookie of the Week

Auston Matthews is charging up the statistical ladder these days with two goals, four points, a plus-2 rating, two power play points and nine shots on goal in two games last week. The 2016 first overall pick sits just one goal and point behind rookie leader Patrik Laine with 30 points in four fewer games than the Finn. Matthews will have the chance to tie or surpass Laine in Sunday’s Centennial Classic against Detroit.

Now it’s your turn. Let us know in the comments below who your favourite Fantasy hockey waiver wire pick of the week is.

This is it — the final week of the NHL regular season, and championship weekend in the vast majority of Fantasy hockey formats. If you’re still with us, congratulations! You’ll do no worse than second in your league, and that’s still an accomplishment to be proud of. Let’s get to this week’s picks, shall we?

Going into free agency, we thought Beleskey’s contract was going to be atrocious. There were reports that he was asking for seven years and he turned down a four-year, $16 million contract offer from the Ducks. However, we were quite surprised at how low the cap hit was when it was announced that Boston had signed him. We think the term was one year too long, but overall, it’s a decent contract. If Boston still has any hopes of making the playoffs, which it said it does, it needed a top nine forward.

Does anyone hear us? Gelinas has 10 points in 17 games for the Devils and has probably gained some notoriety among Fantasy owners because times are tough on the waiver wire. When you have a hard shot, you have to get it to the net. Gelinas excels at getting the puck towards the goal and that shot gets results. His play on the other side of the ice has also been welcome. Gelinas is also in the 15-to-20 per cent owned bracket, but that will not last long.

Daniel Briere is getting over his groin adhesions; for this guy, the problems are just starting.
Oh, the life of Daniel “Danny” Briere – it’s just one injury after another these days, isn’t it? If you’re a fantasy manager, you were stoked to see Briere finally back, then pissed to see him get hurt yet again. [...]